Properties of Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is an extract taken from actual almonds, and is used for many health and beauty purposes. Sweet almond oil's properties, or the attributes, chemicals and appearance of the oil, help to soften skin, brighten the complexion and ease dull muscle pain when the oil is rubbed into the skin like a lotion.

Effects

• Sweet almond oil has beneficial health and beauty qualities. It is a good emollient, meaning it can condition and soften surfaces that it is applied to. Because of this, almond oil is often used in lip balms, lotions and conditioners. Sweet almond oil also has hydrating properties, as it retains water well, and is often used in cosmetics like lipsticks or moisturizers to prevent skin from dehydrating .

Appearance

• Sweet almond oil has a translucent, slightly yellow look to it, though some forms are completely clear. It is an odorless oil, making it more subtle than some other nut extracts you can buy. The oil does have a slight taste of almond to it, making it a good cooking oil, but it does not have enough nut taste to flavor other food items. While some nut extracts, like pecan or macadamia, are strong enough to add nut flavor to baked goods, this is not the case with sweet almond oil.

Chemical

• Sweet almond oil is made up of three distinct chemicals: linoleic acid, glyceride and olein. Linoleic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid found in many nuts, and gives the extract many of its nutritional benefits. Glyceride is an ester formed between an acid and glycerol and is a necessary component of many soaps, making sweet almond oil an ideal ingredient for some toiletries. Olein is a yellowish liquid that occurs naturally in many fats and oils, and gives the oil its coloring.